Quiz: Howstuffworks

The Soul Food Identification Quiz

Jacqueline Samaroo

Image: Photo by Cathy Scola/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Have you got soul? Get ready to explore some of the most satisfying culinary creations on the planet!

Soul food desserts tend to be the ultimate in comfort food. Many of them make full use of in-season fruits and timeless recipes to create delectable sweet treats. Some of these desserts are associated with the holidays, but there's no need to wait a whole year to enjoy them. Any reason is good enough to start dicing, mixing and baking your favorite soul-food-inspired deserts! Are you wondering if we have your favorite one in the quiz?

When it comes to soul food, it's definitely time to pig out! It seems no cut of pork is wasted, as every little bit gets incorporated into something savory and totally filling. Just take a moment to think of all those porky soul food dishes you know -- bet you never realized there were so many of them! Good thing is, we have a bunch of the most mouthwatering ones waiting for you in this quiz -- so you had better start chomping away at it!

If you are a connoisseur of down-home soul food cooking, then you will certainly savor working your way through this quiz. Stop drooling already and dive in!

Do you know the name of this ever-present vegetable?

Collard greens

Candied yams

Seafood gumbo

Cabbage rolls

Collard greens, or simply collards, are related to both cabbage and broccoli, but they get a special place of honor among soul foods. This green leafy vegetable is often prepared with smoked, salty and typically fatty meat added in.

Manny Rodriguez / Blend Images / Getty Images

Can you identify this grain-based dish?

Ham hocks

Black-eyed peas

Grits

Hoecake

Soul food is influenced by the cuisine of several different cultures. This can be seen by the inclusion of grits, which has Native American origins, as one of the staple dishes among soul foods.

Shutterstock

Which crunchy, battered meat dish is shown here?

Caramel cake

Hush puppies

Cat head biscuits

Chicken-fried steak

The roots of the chicken-fried steak are said to lie in German-American cuisine. Soul food connoisseurs know that there is no chicken in this dish, nor was it fried by a chicken! It gets its name from the fact that it is cooked like and resembles pan-fried chicken breasts.

PBJVintageCookingVidz2 via youtube

Can you name this legume, which is often paired with rice?

Cornbread dressing

Peach cobbler

Black-eyed peas

Mustard greens

Black-eyed peas get their name from their distinctive coloring. They tend to stand out when used in soul food rice-and-peas dishes such as Hoppin' John. Black-eyed peas are also often paired with meats such as ham hocks.

Lisa J. Goodman / Moment Mobile / Getty Images

What is the name of the dessert shown in this photo?

Monkey bread

Sweet potato pie

Hash browns

Southern fried potatoes

The sweet potato features prominently in soul food cuisine. They can be served fried, as candied yams or made into the iconic sweet potato pie, which gets a place of honor on most Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables.

Cooking with Aisha via YouTube

Which dish based on pork offal is shown here?

Creamed corn

Chicken and dumplings

Hoppin' John

Chitterlings

This dish makes its way into the realm of soul food by way of European cuisine. It is pork intestines that are cleaned, cooked and served in a variety of ways. Calling it “chitterlings” might make you sound all fancy – much more down-home to say “chit’lins” instead!

Lew Robertson, Brand X Pictures/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Do you know which pasta-based dish is shown here?

Cornbread dressing

Macaroni and cheese

Banana pudding

Peach cobbler

It’s fairly obvious that macaroni and cheese is not a soul food creation – the dish actually originated in England. You would be hard pressed, however, to find a soul food family feast that does not include a heaping helping of this classic dish.

LauriPatterson/E+/Getty Images

What is the name of this fishy dish which contains celery, sweet peppers and onions (aka The Holy Trinity)?

Seafood gumbo

Hog jowl

Offal

Chicken and dumplings

Gumbo can be made with several different types of meat, but seafood gumbo is among the most popular. The characteristic thickness of the dish is quite often a result of okra being added, but other thickeners can be used as well.

Townsends via Youtube

Which variation of cornbread is shown here?

Chicken and dumplings

Hoecake

Grits

Hush puppies

The hoecake is another soul food item with Native American roots, said to be based on a type of Native American corn fritter. Other names for the hoecake (or hoe cake) are johnnycake and Shawnee cake.

Shutterstock

Do you know what this rice-and-peas dish is called?

Jambalaya

Fatback

Chitterlings

Hoppin' John

Hoppin’ John is typically made out of black-eyed peas and rice with some sort of salted meat added. The dish originated along the South Carolina coast and spread throughout the other Southern states.

Pixabay - koahra

What is the name of the pork dish shown here?

Giblets

Ham hocks

Pickled pig's feet

Chicken-fried steak

Pork is a very popular meat within soul food, with various cuts of pork being used in distinctive dishes. Ham hock (or pig knuckle) is covered in skin and has plenty of ligaments and tendon, making it ideal for stews. It is often accompanied by black-eyed peas.

Popsugar Food via Youtube

Can you name the sweet pastry shown here?

Monkey bread

Pecan pie

Peach cobbler

Creamed corn

The distinguishing feature of monkey bread is that it is many different loaves that are easily pulled apart by hand. The effect is achieved by dipping individual balls of dough in butter before coating them in cinnamon, raisins, nuts, etc. The balls are then overlapped in a pan for baking.

Shutterstock

Do you know what these deep-fried dumplings are called?

Hoecake

Chicken-fried steak

Hush puppies

Southern-fried potatoes

Hush puppies are another example of the many Native American contributions to soul food cuisine. They are a common side dish but are most popularly served with seafood or barbecued meats.

Shutterstock

Which pastry is shown in this image?

Sweet potato pie

Cornbread

Cat head biscuits

Sour cream pound cake

Corn has grown in abundance in the Southern states for centuries, and it is no surprise that it makes its way into much of the food from the region. Cornbread is one such food. It is prepared in many variations, including being cooked in a skillet and having crackling (roasted or fried pork rind) added.

Shutterstock

Can you name this slimy vegetable?

Mustard greens

Chitterlings

Okra

Seafood gumbo

Okra enters soul food cuisine from West African origins. It is typically slimy and is thus added to stews (such as gumbo) as a thickener. It is also often served sautéed or fried.

Manny Rodriguez/Blend Images/Getty Images

What is the name of this sweet potato treat?

Cornbread dressing

Sweet potato pie

Southern fried potatoes

Candied yams

The term "candied yams" refers to sweet potatoes that have been boiled, have spices added and are then baked. Although the dish is called candied yams, the yam is actually a different plant and unrelated to sweet potato.

Shutterstock

Which breaded seafood is shown in this photo?

Pork ribs

Chicken and dumplings

Fried fish

Chicken-fried steak

Fried foods are fairly common in soul food, with deep frying being a popular cooking method. Fried fish is typically battered with a cornmeal mixture before frying.

rudisill/E+/Getty Images

Can you name the fruity dessert shown here?

Blackberry cobbler

Caramel cake

Sweet potato pie

Hoecake

Cobbler makes its way into soul food cuisine via the English settlers from early European colonies in the Americas. It is typically made with sweet fruits such as blackberry or peach, cooked with both an upper and lower crust and then served with a scoop of ice cream.

Shutterstock

Do you know which meat dish is in this photo?

Fatback

Southern fried catfish

Giblets

Offal

Just as its name suggest, fatback is fat found under the skin on the back of the pig. It can be served breaded and fried or used to add seasoning and unique flavor to other dishes, such as vegetables and beans.

LauriPatterson/E+/Getty Images

What is the name of this meaty dish whose name comes from a word meaning mix-up or mish mash?

Jambalaya

Pork ribs

Fried fish

Smoked pork shoulder

Jambalaya is associated with traditional Louisiana cooking and bears some resemblance to gumbo – minus the okra and with rice added. Its roots are found in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Mediterranean regions of France and Spain.

Wiki Commons by Stu Spivack

Can you identify the fruity dish shown here?

Banana pudding

Creamed corn

Sour cream pound cake

Cornbread

This layered dessert ranks high among the comfort food dishes in soul food cuisine. It is traditionally made with ripe bananas, vanilla custard and vanilla wafers, and is sometimes prepared and served in mason jars.

cookingguide via youtube

Which vegetable dish is shown in this photo?

Black-eyed peas

Mustard greens

Cabbage rolls

Okra

Mustard greens, collard greens and turnip greens each have their own distinct flavor and are often prepared in similar fashion. It is also not unusual for all three to be combined in one dish.

Grandbabycakes via Youtube

Do you recognize the sweet dessert item shown here?

Peach cobbler

Blackberry cobbler

Candied yams

Caramel cake

Caramel cake is a classic Southern dessert. It often includes a simple caramel frosting or may have other flavors and textures blended in, such as cream cheese. Some recipes call for a whipped cream frosting instead.

sf_foodphoto/E+/Getty Images

What is the name of this popular holiday side dish?

Creamed corn

Cornbread dressing

Southern-fried potatoes

Turnip greens

Cornbread dressing might be referred to as cornbread stuffing in some northern states, but either way, it’s certain to be just as great! It is hardly ever actually cooked inside a turkey or chicken, though it is used as a side dish instead in many Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.

Juanmonino/E+/Getty Images

Which tasty side dish is shown in this photo?

Red beans and rice

Black-eyed peas

Cat head biscuits

Hoppin' John

The red beans in this dish are typically kidney beans that have been slow cooked. They are not mixed into the rice but served over and alongside it instead. The dish is classic Louisiana Creole fare.

Wiki Commons By Jay Cross

Can you name this crunchy seafood dish?

Seafood gumbo

Fried chicken

Southern-fried catfish

Chitterlings

Several types of fish are referred to as catfish, thanks to their whisker-like barbels. Regardless of the type, however, catfish is popularly coated with a cornmeal batter and fried. The common accompaniment for Southern-fried catfish is a batch of hush puppies.

I Heart Recipes via YouTube

Do you know the name of this leafy vegetable which is an excellent source of several vitamins?

Cabbage rolls

Okra

Turnip greens

Creamed corn

Turnip greens are cooked in the same fashion as mustard greens and collard greens. They can be bitter, however, which prompts some people to add sugar to the dish. Most people cook their turnip greens in bacon fat and add some sort of salted pork as well.

dlerick / E+ / Getty Images

What is the name of this nutty dish?

Banana pudding

Pecan pie

Red velvet cake

Blackberry cobbler

Pecan pie is another soul food classic that you are certain to find around Thanksgiving and Christmas. The most popular toppings for this distinctly Southern dish are vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

Shutterstock

Can you name this dish of fried Irish potatoes?

Hash browns

Candied yams

Cornbread dressing

Caramel cake

Hash browns were originally known as “hashed browned potatoes.” Over the years, the name became shorter (and easier to say), so today we have “hash browns.”

PBJVintageCookingVidz2 via Youtube

Do you know the name of this pork snack?

Turkey neck bones

Hog maw salad

Pickled pigs' feet

Chitterlings

Pigs' feet can be cooked in a variety of ways, but pickling them holds a special place in Southern cuisine. Once prepared and locked inside the jar, there is usually no need for the pickled pigs' feet to be refrigerated until you open the jar to have a snack!

Shutterstock

Which sweet and fruity dessert is shown in this picture?

Cornbread dressing

Red velvet cake

Banana pudding

Peach cobbler

Like other types of cobbler, peach cobbler originated as a trail-friendly version of pie. Peaches, which were introduced to the Americas in the 16th century by Spanish explorers, are the state fruit of South Carolina, and Georgia is popularly known as the Peach State.

Shutterstock

Which sweet and savory combination is shown here?

Southern fried catfish

Hush puppies

Red beans and rice

Fried chicken and waffles

Breaded and deep-fried chicken is popular throughout the Southern states. Fried chicken and waffles, however, is a distinctly soul food variation. The two items may seem mismatched at first, but their unique combination is beloved by fans of soul food cuisine.

DebbiSmirnoff/E+/Getty Images

What is the name of this dessert item whose name hides its sweetness?

Red velvet cake

Hoecake

Sour cream pound cake

Pecan pie

Sour cream pound cake is like regular pound cake but with a whole heap of extra goodness added in, thanks to the sour cream! It is a rich, buttery and tender dessert, recipes for which are passed down through families just as with many other soul food dishes.

mphillips007/E+/Getty Images

Can you name this usually barbecued meat?

Giblets

How maw salad

Ham hocks

Pork ribs

Pork ribs can be cooked in several ways, but they are more often than not barbecued when part of a soul food meal. This is traditionally done over a barbecue pit, but oven-baked barbecue ribs are also quite popular.

rudisill/E+/Getty Images

Do you know the name of these crusty yet fluffy treats?

Ham hocks

Cat head biscuits

Hush puppies

Cornbread

Cat head biscuits are said to get their name from their size – roughly about the same as a cat’s head. They are prepared from cold ingredients so that as they bake, the outside forms a thick crust while the inside remains soft and fluffy.

Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) via Wiki Commons

Which mashed and mushy dish is shown here?

Blackberry cobbler

Candied yams

Red beans and rice

Creamed corn

Like many other corn dishes in the Southern states, creamed corn has its roots in Native American cuisine. The corn may be roasted first, and some recipes call for the addition of both milk and sugar.

wsmahar/E+/Getty Images

What is this meaty and fried combination of foods called?

Chicken and dumplings

Red beans and rice

Smoked pork shoulder

Hoppin' John

Chicken and dumplings is a simple yet hearty meal considered by many to be a perfect example of both comfort food and soul food. The complexity of the dish can be increased by adding vegetables to the chicken broth and by incorporating herbs into the dough used to make the dumplings.

esemelwe/E+/Getty Images

Can you name this slow-cooked meat dish?

Chitterlings

Jambalaya

Smoked pork shoulder

Pork ribs

Soul food very often consists of smoked pork meats, such as ham hocks and hog jowls. Another favorite is pork shoulder, which is often smoked with hickory wood chips for flavor and used as pulled pork.

Charles Groux/Photodisc/Getty Images

Which vegetable dish is shown in this picture?

Cabbage rolls

Mustard greens

Southern fried potatoes

Fatback

Cabbage rolls are popular in Louisiana Creole cuisine. The stuffing is typically made from ground pork, rice and vegetables.

LauriPatterson/E+/Getty Images

What is the name of these sweet battered items which are cooked in hot bubbling oil?

Grits

Pecan pie

Southern-fried potatoes

Peach cobbler

Sweet potatoes are very versatile and are incorporated into many soul food dishes. When deep fried, they are often served sprinkled with salt, sugar or a combination of both.

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